Method And System For Femtocell Positioning Using Low Earth Orbit Satellite Signals

A method for communication, the method comprising:

• in a communication device comprising a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signal receiver path and a medium Earth orbit (MEO) path, said communication device being operable to provide communication services to other communication devices:
• receiving LEO RF satellite signals utilizing said LEO satellite signal receiver path when MEO signals received by said MEO path are below a threshold needed for positioning purposes;
• measuring a position of said communication device based on said received LEO RF satellite signals;
• comparing said measured position of said communication device to a threshold radius defined by a stored initial position;
• and
• enabling said communication services to said other communication devices when said measured position is within said threshold radius.

A system for communication, the system comprising:

• one or more circuits for use in a communication device comprising a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signal receiver path and a medium Earth orbit (MEO) path, said one or more circuits being operable to provide communication services to other communication devices, and said one or more circuits being operable to:
• receive LEO RF satellite signals utilizing said LEO satellite signal receiver path when MEO signals received by said MEO path are below a threshold needed for positioning purposes;
• measure a position of said communication device based on said received LEO RF satellite signals;
• compare said measured position of said communication device to a threshold radius defined by a stored initial position;
• and
• enable said communication services to said other communication devices when said measured position is within said threshold radius.

A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

• one or more circuits for use in a femtocell device comprising a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signal receiver path and a medium Earth orbit (MEO) path, said one or more circuits being operable to provide wireless communication services to other communication devices, and said one or more circuits being operable to:
• receive LEO RF satellite signals utilizing said LEO satellite signal receiver path when MEO signals received by said MEO path are below a threshold needed for positioning purposes;
• measure a position of said femtocell device based on said received LEO RF satellite signals;
• compare said measured position of said femtocell device to a threshold radius defined by a stored initial position;
• and
• enable said wireless communication services to said other communication devices when said measured position is within said threshold radius.